Computer server rack system

ABSTRACT

A computer server rack system including posts and side walls attached to the posts. The side walls include a plurality of folding rails which are individually movable between a storage position and an inward extending position wherein the rails project in an inward direction into the computer server rack system from the side walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a rack system for a computer and, more particularly, to a rail system having movably rails.

2. Brief Description of Prior Developments

Various different types of computer rack systems are know. Generally, a frame comprising two or more posts is provides which is adapted to receive shelves or rails for computer components, such as server components for example. Most computing hardware is designed to be installed into industry standard rack enclosures with Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) compliant post and rail systems. One problem is that this installation method can be a time consuming process, especially when installing an entire rack full of hardware or, even worse, several racks of hardware. In one type of design, shelves and rails are attached by screws which are screwed into the frame. In one common installation solution two separate rails are first assembled and then installed into the rack's EIA posts of the rack enclosure. This method can require many parts (22 fasteners alone in one example) to assemble and secure the rails to the EIA posts. Drawbacks include the complication of many parts, the necessity for tools, and the frustration of aligning the rails to the correct EIA post positions on each side of the rack. Also, reconfiguring the rack requires this time consuming process to be reversed to detach the rails from the post before they can be moved to another EIA position.

A newer and improved installation solution has rails which are designed to be tool-less installed so they can be secured to the EIA posts without the additional mounting fasteners. A drawback is that this method still requires the user to carefully align the rails to the correct front and rear EIA ear positions during installation. Another drawback is that these rails come in various U sizes (such as 1U and 3U sizes) and are still “loose parts” requiring installation before the computing hardware can be mounted.

Another hardware mounting solution incorporates fixed mounting brackets with rails for multiple 1U positions. Drawbacks include that these brackets are loose parts requiring installation into the rack, and the rail positions are limited to U increments of the preformed bracket so these are not further configurable to adapt to future position changes.

There is a desire to provide a rail system which can be integrally provided with the rest of the rack system or easily added to existing rack systems. There is a desire to provide a rail system which is easily and quicokly configurable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a computer server rack system is provided including posts and side walls attached to the posts. The side walls include a plurality of folding rails which are individually movable between a storage position and an inward extending position wherein the rails project in an inward direction into the computer server rack system from the side walls.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a computer server rail system for a rack is provided comprising a wall section adapted to be fixedly connected to a frame of the rack; and rails pivotably attached to the wall section. The rails are adapted to be moved between a storage position substantially flush with the wall section and a support position extending in a direction away from the wall section.

In accordance with one method of the invention, a method of configuring a computer server rack system is provided comprising providing the rack system with side walls having fold down rails; and folding selected ones of the rails down from a storage position to a support position to thereby configure locations of computer component support surfaces, provided by the folded down rails, to support computer components thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and other features of the invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a computer server rack system incorporating features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the top of the computer server rack system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the left side of the top of the computer server rack system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view of a detent system which could be used with the rails of the computer server rack system; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view similar to FIG. 3 of the left side of the top of a conventional computer server rack using a wall section comprising features of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a computer server rack system 10 incorporating features of the invention. Although the invention will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used.

The rack system 10 generally comprises a frame with posts 12 and side walls 14 attached to the posts. In the embodiment shown the posts 12 are part of server cabinet 16. However, the rack system could be used with just posts and without a cabinet. Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, the posts 12 comprise two front lateral side posts and two rear lateral side posts. However, the rack system could be used with only two posts or only a cabinet. The front and rear posts 12 each comprise an ear section 18 with a vertical column of mounting holes 20.

The rack system 10 comprises two of the side walls 14. Each side wall 14 is connected between a pair of the front and rear posts 12. The side walls 14 form lateral sides to the interior area 22 of the rack system 10. The interior area 22 forms an area for receiving computer components, such as server components for example, or rack shelves. The side walls 14 each comprise a wall section 24 and a plurality of rails 26. Each wall section 24 is fixedly mounted to a front and rear pair of the rails 12 and/or the cabinet 16, such as by fasteners (not shown) for example.

As seen best in FIG. 3, each wall section 24 has a vertical section 28 with rail seats 30. In this embodiment the rail seats 30 comprise holes through the vertical section 28. The holes 30 have a general rectangular shape with finger notches 32 at their front top sides. However, the finger notches need not be provided and the holes 30 could have any suitable shape. In an alternate embodiment, rather than holes, the rail seats could merely comprise recesses in the vertical section 28.

The rails 26 are connected to the vertical section 28 by pivots or hinges 34. The rails 26 have a general rectangular shape with a finger notch 33 at a top front side. However, in an alternate embodiment the finger notch might not be provided and the rails could have any suitable shape. The hinges 34 are located at the bottom of the holes 30 and the bottoms of the rails 26. In this embodiment the hinges comprise elongate hinges extending the entire length of the holes 30. However, in alternate embodiments any suitable system for connecting the rails to the wall sections between a storage position and a support position extending into the area 22 could be provided. In the embodiment shown, the hinges 34 pivotably connect the bottoms of the rails 26 to the wall section 28 for movement between an up storage position A and a down inward extending position B.

In the storage position A the rail 26 is located in the rail seat 30. Thus, the rail 26 does not substantially extend into the area 22. The rail 26 is substantially flush with the interior facing surface of the vertical section 28 of the wall section 24. In the storage position A the finger holes 32, 33 align to form a generally circular hole which is sized and shaped to receive a person's finger to allow easier access of a user's finger behind the rail 26 for easier movement of the rail from the storage position A to the inward extending position B. In the storage position A the rail 26 is substantially vertically orientated.

In the down inward extending position B the rail 26 extends in an inward direction into the area 22 from the wall section 24. In this position B the rail 26 is substantially horizontal. The rails 26 each comprise a surface 36 which form top support surfaces when the rail 26 is in the down substantially horizontal position. The surface 36 forms a support surface for supporting a computer component, such as a server component, thereon. The surfaces 36 are recessed inside the seats 30 when the rails 26 are retracted into their storage positions A. Thus, rails 26 in their storage positions A are not able to support computer components and, in fact, the computer components can fit between the side walls 14 at the stored rails without interference from the stored rails.

The rails 26 are individually movable between their storage positions A and their support positions B. Therefore, the positions of the rails 26 can be easily configured to locate computer components thereon by merely flipping selected ones of the rails up and down. This allows for easy configuration and reconfiguration of locations of the computer components in the area 22. As seen in FIG. 4, the rail system could comprise a detent system 38 for detent locating the rail 26 at its storage position and/or its support position. However, the detent system need not be provided. In addition to being able to support computer components on opposing pairs of the flipped down rails 26, areas of the side walls 14 having the rails 26 flipped up can have rack shelves located in the area 22 and attached to the posts 12 at the holes 20. The rails 26, when flipped up, do not interfere with locating the rack shelves in the area 22. Thus, the computer server rack system 10 can be provided with both rack shelves and the integral hinged rails 26.

This invention incorporates a rack with a series of individual fold down rails; preferably vertically spaced at 1U increments between the front and rear EIA posts on both the right and left side of the rack. These integrated rails 26 are permanently attached, but they are hinged allowing them to be folded down for use or folded up to be concealed during new hardware installation or while reconfiguring an existing install.

The figures illustrate the built-in “rapid rails” which can be rapidly stored or deployed for supporting a computer component. The top two U position rails are shown folded away for storage while the remaining rails are shown in the folded-out position, ready for use. The hinged rails can fold up or down depending on installation need. The rails can be provided as an integrated “wall” of rapid rails.

In addition to the idea of a rack 10 with these rapid rails already built-in, another possibility is to adapt this invention to allow a wall of rails or partial wall of rails to be added into existing standard racks. A wall or partial wall of rapid rails could attach to existing EIA ear positions in these racks. This concept is illustrated in FIG. 5. In this embodiment a multi-rail system 40 is provided with a wall section 42 and individually flip rails 26. The wall section 42 can be attached to the conventional rack frame 44 by fasteners 48 at the holes 46.

With the invention, configurable built-in rails can be provided in a computer server rack system. This can provide a rapid rail system for rapid deployment of the selected rails or rapid storage and/or redeployment of selected rails. A cutout on the interior wall and the rail edge can provide finger grip access to fold the rail down. Rails can have detents to hold them in up and/or down positions. Preferably, only rails that are needed are folded down. This allows for any U sized configuration; 1U, 2U, 3U, 4U, 5U, etc. The interior wall 24 provides side support for the mounted computer component or shelf. The built-in rails align with each 1U position and flip up/down as needed. Standard EIA mount spacing can be provided and the invention can be used in an existing rack cabinet chassis.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A computer server rack system comprising: posts; and side walls attached to the posts, wherein the side walls comprise a plurality of folding rails which are individually movable between a storage position and an inward extending position wherein the rails project in an inward direction into the computer server rack system from the side walls.
 2. A computer server rack system as in claim 1 wherein the side walls each comprise a vertical section with vertical seats for receiving the rails in the storage position.
 3. A computer server rack system as in claim 2 wherein the vertical seats comprise holes in the vertical section.
 4. A computer server rack system as in claim 2 wherein at least one of the vertical section and the rails comprise finger holes for a user to flip the rails from the storage position.
 5. A computer server rack system as in claim 1 wherein the storage position comprises a vertically upward position.
 6. A computer server rack system as in claim 1 wherein the rails are pivotably connected to the side walls by hinges.
 7. A computer server rack system as in claim 1 wherein the side walls further comprise a detent system for detent locating the rails in the storage position.
 8. A computer server rack system as in claim 1 wherein, when the rails are in their inward extending position, the rails are located about 1U apart.
 9. A computer server rail system for a rack, the system comprising: a wall section adapted to be fixedly connected to a frame of the rack; and rails pivotably attached to the wall section, wherein the rails are adapted to be moved between a storage position substantially flush with the wall section and a support position extending in a direction away from the wall section.
 10. A computer server rail system as in claim 9 wherein the rails are individually movable between the storage position and the support position.
 11. A computer server rail system as in claim 9 wherein the wall section comprises a vertical section with vertical seats for receiving the rails in the storage position.
 12. A computer server rail system as in claim 11 wherein the vertical seats comprise holes in the vertical section.
 13. A computer server rail system as in claim 11 wherein at least one of the vertical section and the rails comprise finger holes for a user to flip the rails from the storage position.
 14. A computer server rail system as in claim 9 wherein the storage position comprises a vertically upward position.
 15. A computer server rail system as in claim 9 wherein the rails are pivotably connected to the side walls by elongate horizontal hinges.
 16. A computer server rail system as in claim 9 further comprising a detent system for detent locating the rails in the storage position.
 17. A computer server rail system as in claim 9 wherein, when the rails are in their support positions, the rails are located about 1U apart.
 18. A computer server rack system comprising: a frame; and two of the computer server rail system as in claim 9, wherein the two computer server rail systems are attached to opposite lateral sides of the frame, and wherein the frame and the computer server rail systems are adapted to have a rack shelf connected to the frame above, and/or below, and/or at the two computer server rail systems.
 19. A method of configuring a computer server rack system comprising: providing the rack system with side walls having fold down rails; and folding selected ones of the rails down from a storage position to a support position to thereby configure locations of computer component support surfaces, provided by the folded down rails, to support computer components thereon. 